by crossriverwatch admin
President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mallam Muhammed Garba has commiserated with the Cross River State Council of the Union over the recent fire accident that burnt the Union bus to ashes while the Union was monitoring the just concluded local government election in the State.
In a telephone interview with our reporter, the Senior Special Assistant to the NUJ President, Comrade Tade Asala said the President was in deep shock when he heard about the incident.
He said Mallam Garba was however consoled that no live was lost in the accident. The NUJ President re-emphasized the need for members of the Union to take the union’s insurance policy seriously.
Mallam Garba said insurance policy for members who are exposed to daily hazards due to the peculiar nature of journalism profession is a must, stressing that the union under his watch would enforce the policy for journalists through media owners and other stakeholders in all the 36 states and Abuja.
“I must tell you that when the President was told about the incident, he was very shocked because it was about the time we paid the last respect to Adophuls Okonkwo in Owerri, he was however relieved when it was clear that no live was lost in the accident”
“This is another opportunity to reiterate the President and Union position on Insurance Policy for members. The nature of our job is very risky and unpredictable and journalists need to be protected with this policy.” he said.
The Chairman Cross River Council of the Union, Comrade Ndoma Akpet, Secretary Nsa Gill and other senior members of the union were on their constitutional duty of monitoring and reporting the just concluded local government election when the Union bus caught fire along Ugep, Itigi/Aboumenge road near Igbo-Ekureku, the boundary between Cross River and Ebonyi State.
It took the intervention of passersby and other good spirited individuals to help the occupants and their belongings out of the bus as the bus exit door was said have malfunctioned and could not be opened. Everybody came out unhurt.
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